Rating: 
Summary: An intriguing mix of psychology and writing theory
Review: "You know you've been in flow when time seems to have disappeared. When you're in flow, you become so deeply immersed in your writing, or whatever activity you're doing, that you forget yourself and your surroundings."Susan Perry, a social psychologist and writer, decided to do her doctoral dissertation on the subject of flow. She conducted interviews, sent out questionnaires, and collected previously existing information. She wanted to know how writers experienced flow, how they got into flow, and whether their experiences could be generalized to help other writers find their way into flow. The author believes that writers can and do have at least a certain amount of control over whether or not they enter flow, and she presents five "master keys" for achieving flow, along with supporting anecdotes and details. Even if the author had stopped with those five master keys, this book would be very useful. But she goes on to present much more information. You'll find more material on flow within the context of a writer's life. Frequently asked questions are answered in sidebars throughout the text. Specific techniques for luring the flow state are discussed (ritual and routine, clutter and lack thereof, timing, music, silence, meditation, tools, and more). The author also discusses the concept of writer's block, and, more specifically, what that means, how it affects flow, and what you can do about it. On the one hand, the wild mix of perspectives is fantastic and extremely educational. There's also the amusement value of seeing several writers self-importantly declare that writing must be done a certain way, only to see several others contradict them. This really is a good lesson in the fact that almost no writing advice is entirely universal. On the other hand, I felt that the author allowed the quotes and interview excerpts to take too much control of the book. Because of this, I sometimes had trouble telling which chapter I was in and which topic the author was discussing. This led to some confusion, and kept some of the author's points from coming through as clearly as they should have. If you have any interest whatsoever in "writing in flow," I strongly suggest that you read this book. While flow is not necessary in order to write well, and the author does mention authors who told her that they never enter flow, flow is certainly a more fun and pleasurable way in which to write (for most people, anyway). Also, if you're one of those people whose parents or teachers berated them for daydreaming, you might enjoy finding out that such a state can be a job skill. I know I certainly did!
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing mix of psychology and writing theory
Review: "You know you've been in flow when time seems to have disappeared. When you're in flow, you become so deeply immersed in your writing, or whatever activity you're doing, that you forget yourself and your surroundings." Susan Perry, a social psychologist and writer, decided to do her doctoral dissertation on the subject of flow. She conducted interviews, sent out questionnaires, and collected previously existing information. She wanted to know how writers experienced flow, how they got into flow, and whether their experiences could be generalized to help other writers find their way into flow. The author believes that writers can and do have at least a certain amount of control over whether or not they enter flow, and she presents five "master keys" for achieving flow, along with supporting anecdotes and details. Even if the author had stopped with those five master keys, this book would be very useful. But she goes on to present much more information. You'll find more material on flow within the context of a writer's life. Frequently asked questions are answered in sidebars throughout the text. Specific techniques for luring the flow state are discussed (ritual and routine, clutter and lack thereof, timing, music, silence, meditation, tools, and more). The author also discusses the concept of writer's block, and, more specifically, what that means, how it affects flow, and what you can do about it. On the one hand, the wild mix of perspectives is fantastic and extremely educational. There's also the amusement value of seeing several writers self-importantly declare that writing must be done a certain way, only to see several others contradict them. This really is a good lesson in the fact that almost no writing advice is entirely universal. On the other hand, I felt that the author allowed the quotes and interview excerpts to take too much control of the book. Because of this, I sometimes had trouble telling which chapter I was in and which topic the author was discussing. This led to some confusion, and kept some of the author's points from coming through as clearly as they should have. If you have any interest whatsoever in "writing in flow," I strongly suggest that you read this book. While flow is not necessary in order to write well, and the author does mention authors who told her that they never enter flow, flow is certainly a more fun and pleasurable way in which to write (for most people, anyway). Also, if you're one of those people whose parents or teachers berated them for daydreaming, you might enjoy finding out that such a state can be a job skill. I know I certainly did!
Rating: 
Summary: Insightful: A Writer's Psychology of Space & Time.
Review: As a philo/psyche major, "Writing in the Flow" was interesting...to a point. The author has done some heavy duty reseach into the the minds of several published writers. They share challenges, struggles, and successes often dependent on where their head is at. The reader "discovers" the arena of Flow..that sustained feeling of loosing oneself in time & space penning thoughts/feelings on paper.
While the information was enlighting, after a bit, I longed for solid food about the dynamics of authorship. For me, this book could have been half the size and made its point.
I truly appreciate Susan Perry's work, ability to communicate her findings & credentials to do so.
Rating: 
Summary: Useful, Inspiring-- tying science and art together.
Review: As a writer, with articles published in OMNI, Success, Writer's Digest (cover article), and numerous other publications, it was a genuine pleasure and surprise to discover Dr. Perry's book on flow and writing. Finding descriptions of how so many well known writers enter and experience flow in their writing was both useful and inspiring. It really helped me get revved up for some new writing projects. Susan Perry has taken one of the most pleasant, challenging, and sometimes difficult to achieve aspects of the art of writing and woven together a discussion of the science and art. Flow is a thoroughly researched concept, with hundreds of studies illuminating this unique yet ubiquitous process. I've been aware of the research on it since the eighties. And Flow has played a major role in my own model of POsitive Psychology and Positivity, which I have lectured on at numerous national professional meetings. Reading the book, you'll understand this phenomenon and, more important, you'll get a handle on how to access or enter the flow state yourself, and use it to enhance your writing experience. Flow is not just another pop psych fad. It is an elegantly researched dimension of positive psychology. Some people write and some people criticize. I would venture to guess that critics who learned how to enter the flow state, might even become writers.
Rating:
Summary: Epiphany City
Review: I am enjoying "Writing in Flow." I measure the value of books by the epiphanies I have when reading them, and I've already had several with "Flow" - some personal and some regarding writing. A rich read that will stay with me!
Rating:
Summary: good resource for creative people & those who study them
Review: I found much to admire in this book. It is scholarly and thoughtful, but also practical and accessible. As such, it is a book that appeals to writers who would like to see how other writers manage the creative process; it also a book that appeals to psychologists and those who study the creative process. The author surveyed and interviewed many writers and found out how often they get into "flow" with their writing, strategies they have for getting into flow, etc. Interestingly, the author also provided information about different writers who decided not to participate in the study and their reasons for declining, some of which had to do with their reluctance or fear about analyzing their creative processes. The author is clear that everyone's process is different and individualized, so she does not try to provide an overgeneralized how-to. Rather, she brings home the point that everyone's creative process is valid and suggests that the reader try different strategies in order to enhance his or her own creative process. These strategies are provided at the end of each chapter and provide an avenue for self-reflection of one's own creative process. I found this to be an eye-opening book.
Rating:
Summary: The Writer and Flow
Review: If words sometimes seem to pour from you; if you have wondered why they sometimes seem to flow with such ease; if you question where they are coming from as they seem to be pulling so much into and out of you, Writing in Flow: Keys to Enhanced Creativity is a must-read.
Building on the concept of Flow as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, using extensive research and intensive interviews, Susan K. Perry explores how Flow works through writers and what their various relationships are with it.
While this makes fascinating reading, what is most important about this book is that Perry in examining underlying patterns of writing in Flow has found, explored, and charted, how the altered state, however it is experienced, is achieved and related to by writers.
She suggests particular techniques that are helpful in achieving flow in writing and provides Five Master Keys for achieving this state that has been described as transcendent, expansive, timeless, and connected to something, or to All, at a deeper level than normal awareness.
If you are thinking of being a writer, if you already think and work as a writer, Writing in Flow holds the key to the answers to many questions you have probably puzzled over, as well as the keys to unlock flow to an extent that you may not have dreamed possible.
Whatever the degree of control you like to have, or would like to have, over your writing, the timelessness, depth, and yes, longing, she touches in this beautifully researched work, will help take you where you have dreamed you might go, and perhaps, beyond.
Rating: 
Summary: Repetitive and not helpful
Review: It should be obvious - but too often isn't that we writers become acquainted with the work of our colleagues. Susan Perry has pulled back the curtain, taken us behind the scenes and into the lives of successful authors. We will find some strange and new ways of creating words and we will also nod in recognition when we discover a writer whose work patterns we relate to. In either case, the knowledge gives us power and hope and inspiration. The authors who shared their angst and elation , their failures, rejections and finally successes in "Writing in Flow" make us realize that they too (as we do) have those highs and lows. So finally, we learn, it's talent and persistence, and yes luck that gets us published. So, hats off to Susan for doing all the research and interviews. Frances Halpern/ Host of Connections which airs at 10 a.m. Sunday (moving to 3 p.m. Saturday beginning April 14) at KCLU, an NPR affiliate located in Thousand Oaks, California.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring Read
Review: Susan Perry has complied a thoughful and well-written book on what it means to allow yourself to write. I found myself writing more often and more successfully within the first few days of reading the book. It gave me permission to sit down and work patiently through the anxiety and clutter in my head, that so often sends me away from the keyboard frustrated. I am no longer taking the inner critic as seriously, and I am writing more and more from my gut. The experiences of other writers - their obstacles, their successes, how they work, have always been valuable to me. Even if they work differently than I do, it is validating to know they have so many of the same dilemmas and feelings about writing as I do. And they often have little tricks or tecniques that work for me, too. Susan Perry's book overflows (no pun) with these kinds of gifts. A must read for any serious writer.
Rating:
Summary: good resource for creative people & those who study them
Review: This book is wonderful in the sense that she gets you to the creative point of your writing. I liked how it unlocked my creative juices and got them to come out. I just met her and she is just as wonderful as in her book. Very helpful.
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